Abstract:In this study, we conducted pot experiments to study the accumulation and translocation characteristics of dry matter and mineral elements (N, P and K) of ‘Xingyu1’, a droughtsensitive cultivar, and ‘Xingyu2’, a droughtresistant cultivar, under drought stress in order to provide theoretical reference for efficient watersaving cultivation of Canna edulis. The results showed that: (1) drought stress significantly suppressed C. edulis growth, decreased both dry matter accumulation of rhizomes, stems and leaves, and its distribution ratio in rhizomes, while those in root increased. (2) At the same time, the uptake and accumulation of N, P and K also declined significantly and the reduction of P was less than that of N and K. The distribution ratios of N, P and K among organs changed obviously as well. Under drought conditions, the leaf was the priority organ of N distribution, the P and K distributed to leaf and root firstly. (3) Simultaneously, the effect of drought on the accumulation and distribution of dry matter and N, P, K had obvious difference between two cultivars. The droughtresistant cultivar ‘Xingyu2’was affected less than the droughtsensitive cultivar ‘Xingyu1’, but the reduction of K distribution ratio in rhizome of ‘Xingyu2’ was higher than that in ‘Xingyu1’. (4) The rehydration effect on the leaf and root was more obvious than on the rhizome, the effect of rehydration on P was better than on N and K, but short time rehydration could not compensate the damaging effects of drought. These results indicated that drought increased the distribution ratio of mineral elements in leaf and root and enhanced osmotic regulation capacity to improve its droughttolerance under the drought conditions. The K use efficiency of ‘Xingyu2’ was lower than that of ‘Xingyu1’ under the drought conditions.